 Report: Treehouse Museum
Okay, RAR and I went to the museum tonight and I loved it - my kids want me to take them again - I'd like to before school starts because my oldest son was unable to go w/ us. We ran into FR there and she said she liked it too. I was kind of picturing in my head some half way put together playhouse in a portable trailer...I just didn't know what to expect. It was a beautiful two story building that was just opened in August 2006 but the museum itself has been around for 15 years.
They had a ton of hands on exhibits for the kids. For instance, one of their exhibits was the Oval Office. It was a large room that resembled the Oval Office and it had a huge desk w/ a chair behind it for the kids to sit behind and pretend that they are the President of the United States. In this room they had a wall where just the pictures of all the Presidents hung and it looked like there was some sort of a game the kids could play to see if they could identify all of them. I didn't look at it too hard but I think that's the jest of it. Another exhibit was a huge floor map (like the size of my kitchen) of the United States and some interactive computerized game they could play w/ it. I think they were asked questions that helped them identify a state and then they needed to go and stand on the correct answer (the state) to get it right. There were three things that my boys loved. The big, huge, gigantic tree that ran right up through the middle of the building, it is fake obviously but you can go inside it and through it and under it (if you're a kid). They loved the fireman exhibit, they had a firetruck and dressup firemen clothes and hats and my boys did that for about 45 minutes. They also loved the teepee. In this, they could go inside, look at animal skins, indian drums, and other replica.
Every exhibit had something for the kids to do hands on. Most had books that went along w/ that subject or era, toys they could play w/ and dress up clothes.
This museum is meant for kids to run and play and use their imagination. There are lots of hiding spots and secret passageways. Because of this, I would've preferred to not do the story time in the theater (although this was fun, too, but only for my 7 year old). I didn't like having to chase after my 14 mo. all the time because there are parts of the museum that feel like you're in a maze so it was easy for him to go out of my sight (hey, I needed one of those kid leashes!). There was a point where I lost him because he found a back stair way. I did eventually find a place that was meant for kids his age. He loved the train tracks and played w/ that the most. The reason there is no strollers is because there's no elevator...at least I didn't see one. If you have a baby, I would suggest bringing a back pack baby carrier or the little Snugli's. Your older kids just zip from one thing to the next, at least mine did. There is a lot to share about this place and like I said, we'll be going back because my kids want to. I enjoyed watching them there. Oh, another thing, BRING YOUR CAMERA!!!! There were so many Kodak moments that I missed and I'm bummed.
I have to say that my 8 year old was trying to act like he was too cool for the museum but there is just something about this place that brings out the kid in you and before too long he had shed his Mr. Cool shell and was being a kid. Heck, if I didn't have a baby to run around after, I would've joined him!
BW, I know your standards are higher than mine when it comes to stuff like this but I think you would love this place, especially since you love the theater and reading stories to little kids.  | 
06-29-2007, 01:17 AM
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